ARTICLE IV. 
On THE ORGANISATION oF AUSTRALIAN TRIBES, By A: W. Howrrr. (With a Map.) 
(Read Dec. 12, 1889.) 
INTRODUCTION. 
Anthropologists have always felt great interest in the social institutions, and in 
the customs and beliefs of the Australian aborigines, for the reason that these savages, 
having for so many ages been apart from other races of mankind, afford an unequalled 
example of the social institutions of a primitive people. The vast extent of the 
Australian continent, its secluded situation, and its homogeneous population, have 
given opportunity, moreover, for a social development, free from external influences. 
For the slight contact in the northern shores of this continent between Australian 
tribes and Papuans and Malays, although, no doubt, it has influenced custom locally, 
has had no effect upon the general population of the continent. 
The disappearance of the indigenous Australians before the white race has been 
so rapid, and is so continuous, that it seems probable that another generation will see 
almost its extermination, unless in the fastnesses of the coast mountains of tropical 
Australa, or the most inhospitable portions of the imterior of the continent. 
Thus it becomes of especial importance that now, while there is still opportunity 
for so doing, every detail may be recorded which it is possible to learn as to the social 
organisation, the customs, and the beliefs of these aborigines. Much has been done 
in this direction, and especial interest attaches to those works, which are the result 
of direct enquiries by persons residing in favourably situated parts of Australia, who 
may be expected to write from actual knowledge, or from carefully tested information 
given by competent observers, rather than from unchecked statements. The last 
work on this subject, namely, that of the late Mr. H. M. Curr, ‘“ The Australian 
Race,” was the outcome of the labour of years by an author who had personal 
acquaintance with the aborigines, and which comes to us bearing the authoritative 
stamp of publication by the Government of Victoria. 
Mr. Curr has collected together a vast amount of most valuable data, and he has 
given his own opinions and views upon, among other matters, the structure of society 
as found among the Australian tribes. 
There are, however, some statements which Mr. Curr has thus made and 
conclusions at which he has arrived, from which, as a worker in this part of the 
